Cindy Haglund wrote:

> I've known someone who was taught to be ashamed of his diabetes and
> would risk his life to defy it every chance he got. He finally
> straightened out when he nearly lost one too many times. (A person
> experiencing an Insulin reaction is as dangerous a driver as a drunk.)

Cindy... I once was ashamed of my diabetes... but grew out of it as I 
grew older.... it was not because I was taught to be ashamed of it... 
back in the day (the early 70's) when I was a child I was always not 
invited to birthday parties because there was cake, ice-cream and 
sugar... I was never taken out to eat with the family... I had to be on 
a "special diet".  But as information has changed.... and mindsets have 
changed... I am no longer so limited... I can even have cake (with 
frosting partially removed...) and I defiantly enjoy my Ice Cream on 
occasion.

I have even some cousins who gasp when they see me eat things like this, 
but I assure them I will be ok... it's not the "poison" that they once 
thought it was.  Everything you eat breaks down into sugar.  With an 
insulin pump, carb counting, and a whole lot of discipline I can live 
somewhat of a normal life.  I just have to account for it more and 
exercise more.

It's a lot better times than it was in the past... perhaps the shame was 
not so much taught to him... but what he experienced.  As a child I was 
made to feel fragile, different and damaged.  Not anymore.

I also test every time I get behind the wheel... there are some states 
that will view driving while your sugar is out of whack as a criminal 
offense.  When I drive and travel I make it a point to stop at every 
other rest stop... and test my sugar.  At least once every 200 miles.
With our modern meters there just isn't any reason not to test before 
driving.  Takes all of six seconds... and the life saved may not be mine.

Allen
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32